ACRC Blog

What Does It Mean to Work at the District Level by Abbey Tootle

Have you ever heard a Rotarian talk about working at the District level and wonder what they mean?

Rotary clubs are organized into geographic regions called Districts, and they are referred to by a four digit number. ACRC is part of District 5870 that includes 61 clubs across central Texas. The geographic area stretches from just north of Waco down to Austin, and from Marble Falls east to Giddings.The district has many volunteer positions that serve the clubs by helping them apply for Rotary grants and other international programs, improve membership, and connect with other Rotarians across Texas and around the world. The district is led by a District Governor who is appointed by a selection committee and serves for one year. The DG, as they are referred to in Rotary circles, travels to all 61 clubs in our district to provide motivation and support in reaching the club’s goals for the year. It’s a great idea to get to know our DG each year because they can help us address a host of challenges (and they are great Rotary mentors, too!).

The DG is supported by a team of Assistant Governors, or AG’s. Our very own Christine Kempff serves as an AG. This is a three-year position and the AG is assigned 4-5 clubs that they visit at least monthly. The AG’s role is to build relationships with the club leadership and understand the club’s goals and challenges. The AG can connect clubs to all kinds of resources and serve as a sounding board for the club leadership (sometimes they just need to vent!).

In addition to the DG and AG’s, our district has committees that focus on Youth Services (like EAFK, Rotaract, RYLA, etc), Grants (i.e. Vocational Scholarships, Global Grants, DAP grants), Membership, Public Relations, and Major Events (like the District Conference, Foundation Dinner, etc.). The district is always looking for new people to join these committees and offer a fresh perspective.

Serving on a District committee is also a great way to meet Rotarians from all over Central Texas. Just last weekend I was at a meeting with a Physical Therapist from Temple, an attorney, and the CFO of an Austin retail chain. The power of Rotary is in the relationships we build through service. If you’re interested in getting involved at the District Level, reach out to Abbey or Christine.